Analyzing historical images in radiology databases can save millions of euros in osteoporosis costs
Karolinska Institute researchers have identified a way of easing the burden of future osteoporotic fractures by analyzing historical radiology images, according to data presented today at the 2010 congress of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Millions of euros can be saved through a structured osteoporosis prevention program.
A study of 8,257 patients at the Karolinska Institute (Stockholm, Sweden) used Sectra’s patented Digital X-ray Radiogrammetry (DXR) method to identify patients that subsequently suffered from a hip fracture
Osteoporosis is an under-diagnosed and under-treated disease. According to a report from the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions on the quality of care in Sweden, only 14% of patients with a fracture are later treated for osteoporosis, while 60-70% are targeted for treatment.
Despite first fracture being a strong indicator of future osteoporotic fractures, only 10-20% of these patients are prescribed treatment. Convenient tools and systematic ways of working are key to the detection of the disease. This study shows that hospitals, regions or even countries can easily single out the patients in need of treatment without adding more than Sectra’s service, dxr-online, to images acquired in clinical practice. Today, the majority of all radiology images are digital and there is thus huge potential to reduce the future cost of osteoporosis-related fractures using radiology databases.
The study showed that BMD (Bone Mineral Density) is lower in patients who suffer from a hip fracture in subsequent years. Images taken in clinical practice of patients with low-energy fractures formed the basis of the study. For further details, refer to the scientific abstract.
About DXR
DXR (Digital X-ray Radiogrammetry) is an automated method for estimating the distal forearm cortical bone mineral density from a standard X-ray. The majority of clinics in the Western world currently use digital modalities for X-ray and all that is needed to use Sectra’s dxr-online service is a digital X-ray modality and an Internet connection. A hand X-ray image is captured at the clinic and sent to the Sectra online lab for analysis. The method has FDA approval for use as a medical device and has been shown to forecast future fractures to the same extent as other peripheral BMD devices.
For further information, please contact:
Dr. Torbjörn Kronander, President, Sectra Imtec AB, +46 705 23 52 27
About Sectra’s medical operations
Sectra develops and sells IT-systems and products for radiology, mammography and orthopaedic departments. More than 1,100 hospitals worldwide use the system daily, together performing over 52 million radiology examinations annually. This makes Sectra one of the world leading companies within systems for handling digital radiology images (PACS). In Scandinavia, Sectra is the market leader with more than 50% of all film-free installations. Outside Scandinavia, Sectra’s system is installed at customers in North America and most major countries in Europe and the Far East.
About the Sectra Group
Sectra successfully develops and sells cutting-edge products in the expansive niche segments of medical systems and secure communication systems. The company was founded in 1978 and has its roots in the Linköping Institute of Technology in Sweden. Today, Sectra has offices in twelve countries and operates through partners worldwide. Sales in the 2009/2010 fiscal year totaled SEK 848 million. The Sectra share is quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm AB exchange. For more information, visit http://www.sectra.com/.
